Panama's Tocumen seeks companies to operate and maintain the David and Río Hato regional airports

Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen S.A., the state company that runs Panama's main airport, has opened a prequalification process for companies interested in operating and maintaining two regional airports: Enrique Malek in David, in Chiriquí province, and Scarlett Martínez in Río Hato, in Coclé. The terms were published on 6 November and the company set out the timetable in a statement dated 9 November.

The proposed model is an administration contract with a base term of ten years. Tocumen would keep ownership of both facilities and remain responsible for the planned infrastructure investment. According to the company, the two airports together handled nearly 398,000 passengers in 2025 and ran operating losses, and the initiative was authorised by Panama's Cabinet Council on 29 September.

Interested companies must register by 27 November 2026. Optional site visits are scheduled at David on 30 November and at Río Hato on 2 December, followed by a preliminary meeting on 4 December and a deadline for questions on 21 December. Prequalification proposals will be received on 7 January 2027, and the list of prequalified companies is expected on 2 February 2027, or 11 February if the period is extended.

Tocumen says it expects the model to improve service quality and attract new routes and more tourism. The statement names no bidders and announces no immediate change for passengers using either airport.